Book-support.



No. 649,293. Patented May 8, |900. N. G. FRENCH.

BOK SUPPORT.

(Application filed May 29, 1899.)

(Nu Model.)

iEn STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

NATIIANTEL GRANT FRENCH, OF JAY, MAINE.

BOOK-SUPPORT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 649,293, dated May 8, 1900. Application filed May 29| 1899. Serial No. 718,784. (No model-5 T0 (all whom, it 11m/ 1j concern.:

Be it known that I, NATHANIEL GRANT FRENCH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jay, in the county of Franklin and State of Maine, have invented a new and useful Book-Support, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in book-supports.

One object of the present invention is to improve the construction of book-supports and to provide a simple and comparatively inexpensive one designed to be mounted on a desk and capable of being arranged over the same or at one side thereof and of being used in connection with a roll'top desk as well as one having a flat top.

A further object of the invention is to provide a book-support of this character which will be adapted to hold a book at any desired inclination and which will be capable of supporting two books, so that either may be examined without interfering with the other.

Another object of the invention is to provide a book-rest which 'will be also adapted for use as a copyholder.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed outin the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective View of a book-support constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sec-tional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the resilient brace which engages the ratchet-plate. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the ratchet-plate.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the iigu res of the drawings.

1 designates a book-support composed of leaves 2 and 3, hinged to a transverse bar 4 by means of plates 5, arranged at the ends of the bar and provided with perforated ears adapted to receive suitable pintles or pivots. The leaves or sections are'provided at their outer edges with transverse iianges 5 and G, either of which is Yadapted to form a ledge or shelf for supporting a book, and the leaves or sections are supported at any desired inclination by braces 7 and ratchet-plates 8, arranged on the lower faces of the leaves or sections, as clearlyillustratcd in Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings. The inner edges of the leaves or sections are arranged near the upper edge of the bar 4L, which projects above the hinges and is adapted to form a ledge for the upper leaf or section. The braces7 which are substantially U -sl1aped, are composed of resilient sides anda connecting cross-piece 9,tl1e cross-pieces of the two braces being arranged in bearings l0 of a plate 1l', whereby the braces are hinged to the lower edge of the transverse bar 4. The plate 1l, which is arranged at the lower edges of the transverse bar, is provided with side portions and the bearings are formed at its angles. The side portions of the plate 1l are secured to the faces of the transverse bar 4, and the outer ends of the sides of the braces are bent outward to form engaging arms or portions which interlock with the ratchet-plates 8.

Each ratchet-plate 8, which is let into the lower face of the leaf or section to which it is secured, is provided with a pair of longitudinal slots or openings ll, and it has a longitudinal series of lugs arranged at the outer side of each of the slots and forming recesses 15,which are adapted to be engaged by the arms of the brace,whereby the leaf or section is supported at any desired angle. The engaging portions of the sides are introduced into the openings or slots of the ratchet-plate by means of centrally-arranged entrancenotches 16, and they are adapted to be engaged with any of thelugs of the ratchet-plate. The brace is adapted to be compressed to withdraw its arms from engagement with the recesses of the ratchetplate, and by holding the sides compressed in this manner the leaf or section may be swung upward ordownward. As soon as the leaf or section is arranged in the desired position the sides of the brace are released and the arms will engage the adjacent notches or recesses. The ratchet-plate is provided at opposite sides with perforated ears, and its ends are also perforated to receive screws or other suitable fastening devices for securing it to the lower-face of the leaf or section.

The plate 11 is provided at its bottom horizontal portion with an opening which regis-v ters with a socket 17, which receives an outer pivot 18 of a swinging support 19, and the latter is provided at its inner end with a pivot 20, which is arranged in a suitable socket or bearing of a horizontally-swinging arm 21. The arm 21, which is provided at its inner end with pintles 22, is designed to be hinged to a desk or other suitable support, as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings. The desk is provided with eyes 23 to receive the pintles 22, and the bearing at the outer end of the arm 21 consists of an upper eye 24 and a lower socket 25. By the arrangement ofthe swinging arm and the swinging support as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings the book-rest is adapted to be swung over the desk or to a position at one side thereof Ior in front of the same, and the arrangement also permits the book-support to be advantageously employed on rolltop desks.

The vleaf 2 is provided at opposite sides with guide-rods 26, on which are arranged links 27, which are connected by an elastic cord 28, adapted to hold a copy on the face of the leaf or section and extending across the same, and it is designed to be employed as a book mark or indicator.

The invention has the following advantages: The book-support, which is simple and comparatively inexpensive in construction, is vadapted to receive a book on each of its leaves 'or sections, and it is capable of ready adjustment to arrange a book over a desk or at 'a point adjacent to the same. The leaves or sections are independently adjustable and may be arranged at any desired inclination and either may be brought to the top, so that the guides and the sliding marking device may be arranged at the bottom or the top, as desired.

Changes in the form, proportion, size, and the minor details of construction within the scope of the appended claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

What is claimed is- 1. A device of the class described comprising a narrow horizontal bar and having its side faces vertical, a pair of leaves or sections hinged to the bar at opposite sides thereof and provided at their outer edges with ledges, either leaf or section being capable of swinging above or below the bar, whereby the leaves or sections are adapted to support two books, one above the other, at either side of the said bar, and means for supporting the leaves or sections in their adjustment, substantially as described.

2. A device of theclass described comprising a support, a leaf or section hinged to the support, a plate secured to the lower face of the leaf or section and provided with an opening, and having opposite notches, said plate being provided at its inner face with longitudinal series or lugs forming recesses, and a brace hinged to the support and provided` with arms adapted to pass through the said notches and engaging the lugs, substantially described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afIiXed my signaturein the presence of two witnesses.

NATHANIEL GRANT FRENCH.

XVitnesses:

.EVERETT L. SMITH, J. WALTER STETsoN. 

